The Chinese Foreign Ministry declined to offer detailed comment after foreign media reported that the Pentagon is shifting some THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) systems based in South Korea to the Middle East. Instead, Beijing reiterated its long-held opposition to THAAD deployments on the Korean Peninsula.
At a regular briefing on the 11th (local time), Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Zhaokun said the ministry was \"monitoring the reports\" and stressed that China's position opposing THAAD deployment in South Korea has not changed.
When pressed on whether Beijing would oppose any future return of those systems from the Middle East to South Korea, Guo offered no further comment.
Analysts say the remarks reaffirm that, despite recent movements of some THAAD assets to the Middle East amid developments tied to the Iran crisis, China still views THAAD’s presence on the peninsula as a threat to its national security interests.
#US #MiddleEast #Iran #Israel #China #GuoZhaokun #THAAD
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Kang Eun-na-rae (rae@yna.co.kr)
